Adjustable Cable Support Structure

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cable support member includes a first track defining first and second channels extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second track at least partially slideably received within the first and second channels of the first track in the longitudinal direction for enabling adjustment of the overall length of the cable support member. The first track and the second track define a cable receiving space extending continuously in the longitudinal direction over the length of the cable support member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to support structures, and moreparticularly, to an adjustable structure for supporting cables and otherconduits.

BACKGROUND

Safe working environments, and more generally, personal safety in publicor private venues, continues to be of critical concern for privateindustry and government alike. Many of these environments, such asconstruction sites, concert or other entertainment venues, or conventioncenters, often rely on significant electrical and other poweredequipment. This equipment typically requires large amounts of associatedelectrical cables or other conduits (e.g., power and/or signal cables,and/or pneumatic or hydraulic lines) routed to various locations andfrom various sources arranged remotely from one another. As a result,potential safety hazards may be created in the areas of high foottraffic, such as along walkways and/or proximate doorways and otheropenings. Routing these lines, for example, along the floor of a sitepresents several drawbacks, including creating tripping and/orelectrocution hazards, as well as subjecting the equipment andassociated lines to unnecessary damage and/or wear.

Safe and acceptable cable handing practices generally include elevatingor suspending these conduits in areas of exposure, so as not to comeinto contact with or pose a tripping hazard for, a worker or a patron.Currently suspension solutions include attaching cables to existingstructures, such as to walls or other preexisting existing equipment.However, such solutions are often time consuming and/or difficult toinstall and/or uninstall without creating damage (e.g., anchor holes ofother mounting surface damage) which must be addressed.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods to quickly andefficiently route cables and other conduits over or otherwise aroundselect areas.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an adjustablecable support member is provided. The support member includes a firsttrack defining a first channel extending in a longitudinal directionthereof, and a second track at least partially slideably received withinthe first channel of the first track in the longitudinal direction foradjusting an overall length of the cable support member. The first trackand the second track define a cable receiving space therein extendingcontinuously in the longitudinal direction over the length of the cablesupport member.

Accordingly to another embodiment of the present disclosure, anadjustable cable support assembly is provided. The assembly includes acable support member defining a cable space over a length thereof andconfigured to receive at least one cable therein. The member furthersincludes a first track defining a first channel extending in alongitudinal direction thereof, and a second track at least partiallyslideably received within the first channel of the first track in thelongitudinal direction for adjusting an overall length of the cablesupport member. A first vertically adjustable support is connectedproximate a first end of the cable support member, and a secondvertically adjustable support is connected proximate a second end of thecable support member for supporting the cable support member in anelevated position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of an adjustable cable supportstructure or assembly according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the cable support structure ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first end of the cable supportstructure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first end of the cable support structureshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second end of the cable support structureshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second end of the cable supportstructure shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter indetail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like elements. The invention may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as being limited tothe embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are providedso that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

The disclosure relates to an elevated, adjustable cable supportstructure or “cable bridge” useful for routing cables and other conduitsin an elevated position around doorways and other openings to avoidunnecessary obstructions along a path of foot traffic, for example.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, perspective views of an elevatedcable guide or cable support structure 10 for routing one or more cables1 in an elevated position according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure are shown. The cable support structure 10 includes twotelescoping or otherwise height-adjustable vertical support elements ormembers 12, each connecting to and supporting an end of an expandablecable support member 20. Each vertical support member 12 includes afixed end 14 attached to a horizontally extending base 15 for enablingthe support members to be free-standing in the illustrated verticalorientation. Each support member 12 further includes at least onemoveable end or segment 16 adjustable or moveable in a verticaldirection Y with respect to the fixed end 14. The moveable end 16 isselectively fixable in a plurality of positions with respect to thefixed end 14 for positioning a respective end of the cable supportmember 20 at a desired height. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixedend 14 and the moveable end 16 define a telescoping arrangement thatfurther includes a moveable intermediate segment 17 arranged between thefixed end 14 and the moveable end 16, providing for further adjustment(i.e., increased range) of the overall length of the vertical supportmember 12. As shown, the vertical support member 12 further includes oneor more locking collars 18 for selectively fixing the vertical positionof the moveable end 16, the intermediate segment 17, and/or the fixedend 14 in an infinite number of positions relative to one another viathe selective application of friction force between the ends and/orsegments. While locking collars are shown, it should be understood thatother forms of fixation between the ends and/or segments may be used,such a spring-loaded locking pin(s) or clevis pin(s) and associatedapertures, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The cable support member 20 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes a first member and a second member moveably attachedto one another. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, thefirst member comprises a first track 22 and the second member comprisesa second track 24. The first and second tracks 22,24 are engageable withone another and moveable relative to one another in an axial of thecable support member 20 direction (i.e., along an axis of elongation)for adjusting its overall length L. As shown in greater detail in FIG.2, each of the tracks 22,24 of the cable support member 20 includesprovisions for attaching to the moveable end 16 of each vertical supportmember 12. For example, in one embodiment, the cable support member 20includes at least two receivers 25, embodied herein as hollowprotrusions opening and extending in a downward vertical direction fromeach of the first and second tracks 22,24. The receivers 25 are sized soas to accommodate a portion of each of the movable ends 16 therein. Thecable support member 20 may be placed over the vertical support members16, and secured thereto by slideably inserting the end portions of thevertical support members 12 within the receivers 25. In this way, acable support member according to embodiments of the present disclosuremay be universal to the extent that it can be mated with and/orsupported by a variety of different vertical support structures, such asexisting off-the-shelf pole stands, increasing its usability andpracticality in the field.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first track 22 comprises a bodyhaving a generally U-shaped external cross-section, including a basewall 30 and two outer sidewalls 32 extending generally perpendicularlyfrom the base wall. The outer sidewalls 32 define a wall of respectivefirst and second channels 35,37 defined by the first track 22. The firsttrack 22 further comprises two opposing inner sidewalls 34, eacharranged generally parallel with a corresponding one of the outersidewalls 32. Each outer sidewall 32 may be fixedly attached to arespective inner sidewall 34 via a respective top wall 36 extendingbetween an end of each outer sidewall 32 and an end of each respectiveinner sidewall 34. The inner sidewalls 34 extend from the top walls 36in a direction toward the base wall 30. In this way, a respective one ofthe outer sidewalls 32, the top walls 36 and the inner sidewalls 34define each of the channels 35,37. Each channel 35,37 comprises agenerally continuous hollow space extending in the longitudinaldirection of the cable support member 20. Further, each inner sidewall34 comprises a free end opposite the top wall 36, defining a gap oropening 31 between the inner sidewall 34 and the base wall 30. Theopenings 31 may be defined continuously along an entire length of thefirst track 22.

The cable support member 20 defines a cable space 50 arranged betweenopposing inner sidewalls of the first and second tracks 22,24 andextending continuously in a longitudinal direction thereof. The cablespace 50 is sized so as to accommodate one of more cables or otherconduits therein, and guide such elements along a length of the cablesupport member. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the firsttrack 22 further comprises a rounded free end 33 extending from the basewall 30. The rounded free end 33 may define a convex protruding surfacehaving an axis of curvature oriented generally transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the cable support member 20. In oneembodiment, an arcuate surface defined by the rounded free end comprisesan arc length extending over at least 90 degrees. The rounded free end33 ensures that cables or other conduits are not damaged entering and/orexiting the cable support member 20 in these high stress and otherwisesharp areas.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second track 24 comprises a bodyhaving a generally U-shaped cross-section including a base wall 40having two opposing sidewalls 42 extending generally perpendicularlytherefrom. The cross-section of the second track 24 is generallycomplementary to that of the first track 22 such that the second trackis insertable into and engageable with the first track 22. Morespecifically, the two opposing sidewalls 42 of the second track 24 arereceivable within the channels 35,37 defined by the first track 22, andslideable therein the longitudinal direction of the first track 22. Thebase wall 40 of the second track 24 is aligned generally parallel withand at least abutting the base wall 30 of the first track 22 (see FIG.4), wherein the base wall 40 extends in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the tracks and into the channels 35,37 via theopenings 31. In this way, the second track 24 and the first track 22comprise a generally telescoping arrangement, wherein an overall lengthL of the support member 20 may be adjusted. In an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the second track 24 may also define a rounded freeend 43 extending from the base wall 40 having features similar to thoseset forth above with respect to the rounded free end 33 of base wall 30.

Once inserted in an axial direction of the tracks, the first track 22 iscaptured relative to the second track 24, and motion between the tracksin directions other than the axial direction is prevented. The engagedtracks are slideably expandable and contractible for accommodatingvarious opening spans, and able to support substantial cable loads.

Capturing the sidewalls 42 of the second track 24 within the channels35,37 in the above-described manner greatly increases the load-carryingcapacity of the support member 20 compared to other telescopingarrangements. As shown, bending loads placed on the support member 20act to urge the second track 24 into contact with both the base wall 30of the first track 22 and well as the top wall 36. Accordingly, in orderto increase the load carrying capacity of the support member 20, thethickness of the top wall 36 in a vertical direction is at least doublethat of a thickness of either the sidewalls or the base walls of thefirst and/or the second tracks 22,24. In one embodiment, the top wall 36comprises a square cross-section, aiding in improving the structuralstrength of the member 20, as well as facilitation attachment of thefirst and second sidewalls thereto.

In one exemplary preferred configuration, the base wall 30 and outersidewalls 32 of the first track 22 may be formed from an extruded pieceof material, such as extruded aluminum. The top wall 36 may be formedfrom a square or rectangular piece of stock material which may beaffixed to the outer sidewalls 21 via, for example, welding. Likewise,the opposing inner sidewalls 34 may comprise strips of stock materialwelded to the top wall 36. The second track 24 may be formed fromextruded material, such as an extruded U-shaped aluminum channel. Therounded free ends 33,43 of the first and second tracks 22,24 maycomprise portions of rounded stock, such as quarter round stock affixedto an end of respective base walls 30,40 via, for example, welding.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the channels 35,37 of thefirst track may be capped or otherwise closed on a first end thereof,thereby preventing the second track 24 inserted into a second end of thefirst track 22 from extending past this closed end. In otherembodiments, the channels 35,37 remain open and unobstructed along theentire length of the first track 22, thereby allowing the second track24 to be inserted into the first track 22 from either end thereof. Thecable support member 20 may further include one of more locking featuresconfigured to fix the second track 24 relative to the first track 22 inthe longitudinal direction. In one embodiment, this may be achieved by afastener threaded through the base wall 30 of the first track, wherein afree end of the fastener bears on an underside of the base wall 40 ofthe second track 24 for fixing the first track relative to the secondtrack via friction therebetween.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, each base wall 30,40of the first and second tracks may further define an aperture formedtherethrough and aligned coaxially with an opening defined by arespective one of the receivers 25. In other words, the opening definedby the each receiver 25 may extend through a respective one of the basewalls 30,40. In this way, one or more cables arranged within the cablespace 50 and along substantially the length L of the cable supportmember 20 may be routed through these apertures, into the receivers, andfurther into hollow interiors of the vertical support members where itmay enter/exit proximate a bottom thereof. In this way, embodiments ofthe present disclosure provide provisions for concealing and protectingthe cables in an enclosed manner not only over the length L of the cablesupport member 20, but also in each vertical direction as the cable isguide up to and down from the cable support member. A decorative fabriccover (not shown) may also be provided for enhancing the appearance ofthe cable bridge, enabling its use in more formal settings.

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing theinvention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope andspirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoingdescription be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and thatthe scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together withtheir full range.

Also, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” preceding an element orcomponent of the invention are intended to be nonrestrictive regardingthe number of instances, that is, occurrences of the element orcomponent. Therefore “a” or “an” should be read to include one or atleast one, and the singular word form of the element or component alsoincludes the plural unless the number is obviously meant to be singular.

The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is anon-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodimentof the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments asdescribed in the application.

1. An adjustable cable support member, comprising: a first trackdefining a first channel extending in a longitudinal direction thereof,the first track including: a base extending in the longitudinaldirection; a first planar outer sidewall extending from a first end ofthe base; and a second planar outer sidewall extending from a second endof the base; a first planar inner sidewall attached to first end of thefirst outer sidewall and extending parallel to the first outer sidewallin a vertical direction and the longitudinal direction; and a secondtrack at least partially received within the first channel of the firsttrack in the longitudinal direction, the second track slideable withrespect to the first track in the longitudinal direction, the firsttrack and the second track defining a cable receiving space extendingcontinuously in the longitudinal direction over the length of the cablesupport member.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The cable support member of claim 1,wherein the first track further comprises a second planar inner sidewallattached to a first free end of the second outer sidewall and extendingparallel to the second outer sidewall in the vertical direction and thelongitudinal direction.
 4. The cable support member of claim 3, furthercomprising a first top wall connecting the first end of the first outersidewall and the first inner sidewall and a second top wall connectingthe first end of the second outer sidewall and the second innersidewall, wherein the first channel is defined by the base, the firstouter sidewall and the first inner sidewall, and wherein a secondchannel is defined by the base, the second outer sidewall and the secondinner sidewall.
 5. The cable support member of claim 4, wherein thefirst and second inner sidewalls comprise respective longitudinallyextending free ends opposite the first and second top walls, an openingis defined between the free end of each of the first and second innersidewalls and the base, and a height of each of the openings in thevertical direction is less than a height of the first and second innersidewalls.
 6. The cable support member of claim 5, wherein the secondtrack includes a base, a first sidewall extending perpendicularly from afirst end of the base and a second sidewall extending perpendicularlyfrom a second end of the base.
 7. The cable support member of claim 6,wherein, when the second track is received within the first track in thelongitudinal direction, the base of the second track extends parallel tothe base of the first track and through the openings defined between thefree ends of each of the first and second inner sidewalls, the firstsidewall of the second track is arranged within the first channel andthe second sidewall of the second track is arranged within the secondchannel, and the longitudinally extending free ends of the first innersidewall and the second inner sidewall abutting an opposing top surfaceof the base of the second track at least partially along their lengths.8. The cable support member of claim 1, wherein the second track ismoveable with respect to the first track substantially only in thelongitudinal direction.
 9. The cable support member of claim 6, whereinthe base of the first track comprises a rounded free end extending belowa remainder of the base of the first track in a direction away fromcable receiving space, and the base of the second track comprises arounded free end on an end opposite the rounded free end of the firsttrack and extending below a remainder of the base of the second track ina direction away from cable receiving space.
 10. The cable supportmember of claim 9, wherein an axis of curvature of each of the roundedfree ends extends in a direction generally transverse to thelongitudinal direction.
 11. The cable support member of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first receiver directly fixedly connected to an undersideof the base of the first track proximate an end of the first track; anda second receiver directly fixedly connected to an underside of the baseof the second track proximate an end of the second track, each of thefirst and second receivers configured to engage with a respectivevertical support member for supporting the cable support member in anelevated position.
 12. The cable support member of claim 11, wherein thefirst and second receivers each comprise a hollow protrusions extendingand opening in a vertically downward direction from the base of thefirst track and the base of the second track, respectively.
 13. Thecable support member of claim 12, further comprising a first and asecond telescoping vertical support member received within a respectiveone of the first and second receivers.
 14. The cable support member ofclaim 13, wherein the first and the second vertical support members areadjustable in height.
 15. An adjustable cable support assembly,comprising: a cable support member defining a cable space over a lengththereof for receiving a cable, including: a first track defining a firstchannel and a second channel extending in a longitudinal directionthereof, the first track including: a base extending in the longitudinaldirection, a first outer sidewall extending from a first side of thebase; a second outer sidewall extending from a second side of the base;and a first inner sidewall attached to a first end of the first outersidewall and extending parallel to the first outer sidewall in avertical direction and the longitudinal direction; and a second trackincluding: a base extending in the longitudinal direction; a firstsidewall extending perpendicularly from a first side of the base andslideably received within the first channel in the longitudinaldirection; and a second sidewall extending perpendicularly from a secondside of the base and slideably received within the second channel in thelongitudinal direction for adjusting a length of the cable supportmember, a length of the first inner sidewall of the first track beinggreater than a length of the first sidewall of the second track in thevertical direction; a first vertically adjustable support connectedproximate a first end of the cable support member; and a secondvertically adjustable support connected to a second end of the cablesupport member.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The adjustable cable support assemblyof claim 15, wherein the first track further includes a second innersidewall attached to a first end of the second outer sidewall andextending parallel to the second outer sidewall in the verticaldirection and the longitudinal direction, the first and second innersidewalls comprise respective free ends, wherein an opening is definedin the vertical direction between the free end of each of the first andsecond inner sidewalls and the base, the openings having a height in thevertical direction that is less than a height of the first and secondinner sidewalls.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The adjustable cable supportassembly of claim 17, wherein, when the second track is received withinthe first track in the longitudinal direction, the base of the secondtrack extends parallel to the base of the first track and through theopenings defined between the free ends of each of the first and secondinner sidewalls, and the first sidewall of the second track is arrangedwithin the first channel and the second sidewall of the second track isarranged within the second channel.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The adjustablecable support assembly of claim 17, wherein the first and second outersidewalls of the first track, the first and second inner sidewalls ofthe first track, and the first and second sidewalls of the second trackdefine parallel and continuously planar sidewalls extending in thevertical and longitudinal directions.
 22. The adjustable cable supportassembly of claim 17, wherein, with the cable support member supportedby the first and second vertically adjustable supports, longitudinallyextending free ends of the first inner sidewall and the second innersidewall abut a top surface of the base of the second track at leastpartially along their lengths.
 23. The adjustable cable support assemblyof claim 15, wherein the base of the first track includes a rounded freeend extending below a remainder of the base of the first track in adirection away from cable space, and the base of the second trackincludes a rounded free end on an end opposite the rounded free end ofthe first track and extending below a remainder of the base of thesecond track in a direction away from cable space, an axis of curvatureof each of the rounded free ends extending in a direction generallytransverse to the longitudinal direction.
 24. The cable support memberof claim 1, wherein the second track includes a base, a first sidewallextending perpendicularly from a first side of the base and a secondsidewall extending perpendicularly from a second side of the base, alength of the first inner sidewall of the first track being greater thana length of the first sidewall of the second track in the verticaldirection.